Apparatus for abrading graphite or similar material



Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,736

L. s. WATRES APPARATUS FOR ABRADING GRAPHITE OR SIMILAR MATERIAL Original Filed July 11, 1924 a 1 V3 INVENI OR.

9 p ea/6L W ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

um'rso STATES harem err-ice. I

Lewis s. wA'rRns, or scnau'ron, PENNSYLVANIA, ssIeNontro 1111 11611111). GRAPHITE LUBRICATION COMPANY, OF WARE.

wItMINt-i'roii, DELAWARE, A summaries or DELA- APPARATUS For. ABRADING emirmm on uremia. 1

original application filed July 11, 1924-, Serial No. 125,377. Divi-deil andthis 1925. serial N0. 73 310.

This invention a division of my application Serial No. 725,377, filed July 111, 1924,. and relates to apparatus for effectively abrading solid material such, for example, as graphite, and introducing the same in regulated amounts into regions where it may perform a desired function.

In my prior Patent, No. 1,1-89,643, of July ated steam conduit of a locomotive, may be used for other purposes, andparticularly for the lubrication of various moving parts either in a railway motor or other-oscillating sup port.

The ac'con'ipanyii'ig drawings illustrate a number of forms of my improved device. Fig. 1 is a perspective view with part-s broken away of a locomotive boiler with a device of my invention installed; 2 is an enlarged View of an embodiment of my invention, the cover-plate having been removed; Fig.3 is a view mainly in vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a modification; and Fig. 5 is a View along lines 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to said drawings, 10" denotes a chamber casing having a stem 11 provided with a bore 11 therethrough, and having a valve 12, to which is threaded a pipe 13 which may extend, when the device is mounted for use, through a locomotive boiler shell 14, and

into the saturated steam conduit 15 shortly before the steam enters the manifold or header 16 for the superheater tubes 17.

of which carries the abrasive material 41 such A threaded stud 18 is preferably provided, by means of which casing 10 may be braced to the boiler shell 14. Mounted in casing 10 is an oscillating member consisting of a coinparatively heavy plate 40, the upper surface as crystals of silicon carbide, the underside being smooth and engaging rollers 42, having as bearings studs 43, 43 projecting from the casing lO. The ends of the plate 40 may be appueaseii rice nee-sister provided with springs 44 which strike against opposite sides of the casing 10 and cause: plate 40 to rebound. therefrom. Gasing 10' has a cover 24 which is clamped in place by means of boltsthrougli holes in cars around the casinglO. a

For the" purpose of feeding solid material, such'a-s graphite sticks onto the abrasivesurface 41, I have provided a magazine '27 which isheld inplace by -means of a 'col larportioni 28 restingupon a shoulder -29 in the body of the chamber casing. A cap 30 engages in thread 25 provided ed relationship an annular extension "31 of casing 10, and is'proyi ded with an internal lug 32 which bears down upon-the top efthecollar portion 28 and holds it firmly against shoulder 29 whereby the tube 27 ishelld rig idjly in place. I 'pi eferably provide" a hole 27 in tube 2710 insure equalization of pres sure within the magazine. to be abraded I prefer to-use sticks33 ofcompacted, flocculated graphite as: made in ac- 7 cordance with the patent to GeorgefKi'rl ixe g'a-ard, No. 1,185,682, of Jane 6, 1916'.

In use my improveddevice may be mounted on a locomotive boiler, as shown in Fig. 1,

being placed with the oscillator at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the boiler. Before starting a run a number of the graphite sticks are placed in the magazine 27, valve 12 being of course shut oil. Due to the lateral vibration. or nozing, of the locomotive, the oscillatory will be kept in constant motion and will continue to abrade particles of the graphite sticks by the action of abrasive surface 41. Valve 12 being open, the particles produced by the abrasion of the graphite will find their way through bore 11 into the stream. of satur- As the materiat ated steam on its wayto the superheater, the

presence of the graphite particles serving the dual purpose of effectively stepping up in their incipiency leaks in the couplings or oints of the superheater and lubricating the valves andpistons of the locomotive, all as more fully described in myaforementioned Patent, No. 1,189,643. a

It willbe noted that while thereis no direct circulation of steamthrough the casing'10, that there is a continual surging of the steam due to the action of cylinders; In addition a more' or less diminished pressure results in casing 10 whenever the steam is cut off by means of throttle 34, while when the throt- 1 'struction of my device, for which reason I do not intend to limit my invention to such cont le is open full boiler pressure is immediately built up in said casing. Due to both these causes, the particles of the graphite are effectively carried out of casing 10. y

In Figs. 4: and5 a ball 50 travels on a support 51, andstrikes against thedepending legs or stops 52, 52 of plate 53 having. an

abrading surface 54, and thus serves to move said plate-back and forth and cause it to oscillate longitudinally as it slidesio'n the ledges 54. r V 1 1' The amount of graphite consumed will depend somewhat upon the Weight of the material above the surface undergoing abrasion,

and the rate of consumption'can therefore be 7 to some extent .controlled. i

Itwill be seen from the foregoing that 1 have provided a simple though exceedingly effective device for abrading and feeding graphite into the saturated steam conduit'of a locomotive or inany region thereof in'which it might be desirable to admit such granular material. Furthermore, my device "requires no external power means for its operation. It will also be apparent that various changes may be made in the detailed construct ional details. For example, the oscillator member may be used to operate a'separate abrading means in various ways which will occur to the skilled mechanic. Iclaimz 1 i 1. In combination a vibrating support, a chamber mounted thereon, a magazine tube extending into said chamber, an outlet from of material to be abraded upon said abrasive surface. i

mounted thereon, abrasive material, a plate oscillator longitudinally operated by trans,

verse motion ofsaid vehicle, said abrasive material being carried said oscillator.

4. In combination, a vehicle, a chamber mounted thereon, abrasive material, a plate.

oscillator longitudinally operatedby translverse motion of said vehicle, said abrasive material beingcarried by said oscillator, and

0. In combination, a vehicle, a chamber means independent of said plateto aid its oscillation by impact.

5. In combination, a vehicle, achamber mounted thereon, abrasive material, a plate oscillator longitudinally operated by transverse motion of said vehicle, said abrasive,

material being carried by said oscillator and a ball Within said chamber to aid the oscilf lation of said plate.

LEWIS s. WAT-RES. 

